Stephen d



(No Model.)

S. D. HATCH.

PIRR PROOF STRUCTURE.

No. 376,381. Patented JRR. 10.1888.

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f Ik f N. PETERS, Plmko-Lilhagmphur. Ylnshiniun. DV C4 Arf UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN D.. HATorL'oE NEw YORK, N. Y.

FlRE-PROOF STRUCTURE.

:SPECIFICATION forming part o'f Letters Patent No. 376,381, dated January 10, 1588.

Application filed Juno 6, 11387. Serial No2-10,360. (No model.)

.To aZZ whom may concern:

Beit known that I, STEPHEN D. HATCH, of the city of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fire-Proof Structures, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure I is an under perspective view of one of the tire-proof blocks, showing the recesses on its ends for seating it on the inverted-T bearers, also the dovetail projections beneath the block, forming intervening bevelrecesses to clinch the ceiling-plaster, and the air-cells within said block that act asnon-conductors of heat in case of lire. Fig. Il is a transverse vertical section taken on line Il Il,Fig. III, showing the I-beams, on the footiianges of which the inverted-T bearers rest, which support the hollow tire-proof blocks, and shows the concreted spaces between blocks and between end blocks and I beams, and it shows a section of the ceiling with the plaster clinched in the bevel-recesses between the dovetail projections from the blocks, and also the floor vseated on the head-flanges of the I- beams, with au interlayer of asbestus cloth between the two layers of matchedboards; and Fig. Ill is a longitudinal vertical section taken on line III lll, Fig. II, showing the inverted-T bearers' in cross-section and the reproof blocks resting on them, with the door above and the dead air space that intervenes between the blocks and door.V

My invention relates to tire-proof devices and safeguards against the spread of tire from one part of the building to another; .and the invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described,and pointed out in the claims. c Y

Referring to the drawings, in which similar figures of reference Vindicate like parts in all the views, 1 represents the I beams, the footiianges 2 of which rest on the columns or wall in the story beneath. The I-beams are alsoV provided with head-flanges 3, on which restv the door. rlhe lower course of boards, 4, lies transversely across the head-anges of the I- 5o beams, and the top course, 5, is laid transverselyacross the subordinate one. An interlayer of asbestus cloth,6,is placed between the two sections ot' the Hoor, forming a fire-proof Vbarrier between them.

ing, from the essential features of my inven-V` tion.

The tire-proof sectionblocks are placed on the inverted-T bearers, leaving narrow vertical interstices-13 between them, and near the lower edges of the adjoining blocks (within vsaid interstices) are corresponding bevelnotches formed by the bevel sides of the projecting dovetails on adjoining blocks, (whose use is hereinafter described.) The bevelnotches form, in conjunction with the vertical aperture above, barbed or dovetail terminations 111l thereto. These interstices, as well as the spaces 15 between the end blocks and the I beams, are filled with cement, concrete, or other suitable material, so as to compact the whole together, making conjointly with the fire-proof blocks substantially an integral barrier between story and story that is impervious to the attacks of lire; and said dovetail or barbed cemented interspaces between the blocks make rm bevel-keys to hold them in their places,at the same time that they make an extra clinch for securing the ceiling-plaster; also, it will be seen that, as the united lire-proof blocks and their bearers make a iiat arch, there is no thrust tospread the walls, and as said blocks are firmly cemented together and to the I-beams and T-bearers, the whole is very strongly braced and makes a firm support for the floor and its superincumbent weight. The under sides of the fire-proof blocks are provided with dovetail projections 16, the intervening bevel-spaces, 17, between which form seats for the clinches of the plaster or cement that forms the ceiling.

It will be seen that the ceiling, being thus IOO cemented and held within the bevel, clinchcs to the fire-proof blocks themselves, leaves no lntervening space for air or re (in case of accident) to penetrate, and, if possible, still further re-enforces the fire-proof barrier between the floors. Again, it will be seen that all air-vent is completely stopped, making the division between floor and oor entirely air-proof, water proof, and tire-proof, for where air cannot enter neither can re. Knowing, then, that the greatest desideratum in the construction of tire-proof buildings is to provide airtightdivisions between the floors, I colnpletely seal the space from wall to wall by means that make it not only lireproof, but also air-prooi", and in consequence waterproof, so that if a fire should occur it is limited from encroachment beyond the tloor where it originates, and also all suction-draft that' would otherwise be engendered by the heated rariiied air is prevented from intercommunication between lloor and floor, and thus fanning the lire. Also, as the iioors or compartments ofthe buildings where these devices are used are not only lire-proof, but also waterproof, it is 'evident that, should a fire start on one of the floors, not only will the lire be limited to that floor, but the water that is there discharged to combat with the fire will not run as freely from its work to other floors, to the destruction of property hy water that the tire has never reached.

When my fire-proof device above described is used, much labor and expense in scaffolding will be dispensed with, as the same can be constructed and laid down as the building progresses floor by floor and utilized in the place of scaffolds.

To recapitulale,among thc advantages of the invention are- First. Its being an air and water as well as a fire seal between ceiling and floor, for it is a Well-known fact that where air cannot penetrate neither can water; that air is as necessary to the progress of combustion as it is to animal and vegetable life.

Second. The strength of the licor-bearings and the stiiTening-brace it provides to the whole building, there being no thrust in its fiat arch, but a series of substantial ties from wall to wall throughout the Whole building.

Third. The ease and quickness of its construction.

Fourth. 'Ihe material used in its construction being neither subject to combustion nor decay.

Fifth. Its availability to be laid licor by floor as the building progresses.

Sixth. Its use for scaffold purposes as the building goes up.

Seventh. The increased safety from accident that the secure iioors give, especially in the construction of high buildings.

Eighth. Not only limiting the fire to the iioor on which it starts, but also confining the water, as much as can be, to the same limits, to combat with the iire instead of running from its work to the destruction of propert-y not attacked by the flames.

I claim as my invention- I. In fire-proof structures, the combination, with I-beams having suitable support, of in Verted-T beams resting on the lower ilanges of said I-bcams, fire-proof blocks cemented together and resting on the iiangcs of the T- beams, and flooring consisting of boards placed transversely of the I-beams and resting on top thereof, boards transverse of aforesaid boards,

and a layer of asbestus placed between the layers of boards, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In fire-proof structures, a flooring consisting of a layer of boards, another layer of boards transverse thereof, and a layer of asbestus placed between the layers of boards, substantially as set forth.

3. In tire-proof structures, the combi nation of the Ibeams,invertcd-T beams resting on the lower flanges of the I beams, hollow fireproof blocks resting on the flanges of the T- beams and having interstices between them, pendent dovetail projections on the blocks, and bevel-notches formed by the bevel sides of the dovetails on adjoining blocks, said notches forming, in conjunction with the interstices above, keys to hold the blocks in their places when cement is placed therein, substantially as set forth.

STEPHEN D. HATCH.

In presence of- WILLLiu HENRY WILLIS, W. H. BUTTERWORTH. 

